Comb for musical instruments



April 14, 1953- "o. R. NEMETH COMB FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Aug. 21, 1950 i M f y (Ittomeg Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE COMB FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Otto R. Nemeth, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 21, 1950, Serial No. 180,649

' This invention relates to a musical instrument and more particularly to a musical instrument of the percussion type such as a toy piano.

i The primary object of the invention is to iacilitate the construction of musical instruments employing vibrating reeds or tines of exceptionally accurate tone quality by modern mass production methods.

Another object is to preserve in instruments employing musical combs accurate tonal quality and adequate resonance to render audible the tones produced by the vibration of the tines.

Still another object is to preserve the simplicity of design of the mechanism of percussion musical instruments such as toy pianos and at the same time secure accurate tone qualities at a minimum of expense.

The above and'other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a musical comb of the type having an elongated comb back and tines carried by said comb' back,-means for governing the pitch of a musical tone produced by a tine comprising a neck connected to each tine and to the comb back, and each neck having recesses opening from opposite sides thereof Other features include a group of hammers mounted to move upwardly, a musical comb mounted above said hammers and having tines which lie in the path ofmovement of the hammers.

Still other features include a resonator carried by said comb above said tines, and a sounding board connected to the resonator in spaced relation thereto.-

In the drawingsr Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating a musical comb and resonator embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through a percussion instrument illustrating this improved comb, and resonator in proper relation to the hammers by which the tines of the comb are struck;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the comb; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the resonator and clamp plate.

Referring to the drawings in detail a musical comb designated generally In comprises a back I 2 of elongated rectangular formation from one longitudinal edge of which extends a group of tines l4. As is customary with musical combs of the type to which this invention relates, the tines l4 progressively increase in length as the approach one end of the back [2.

In the preferred form of the invention, the tines are joined to thecomb back by connectors designated generally it each of which comprises an arm [8 which is formed integrally with the comb back 12 and projects perpendicularly there-'- from. Formed integrally with the arm l8 at the end thereof remote from the comb back [2 is an extension 28 which lies substantially parallel with the comb back l2 and terminates in an angu larly extending neck 22 which lies perpendicular to the comb back and is integral not only with the extension 20, but with its respective tine Hi. In forming the neck 22, the depth of the notch 24 formed between the extension 26 and the tine I4 is varied in order to alter the rapidity of,vi

bration of its respective tine so as to control the pitch of tone produced by such vibrations. Also the notch 25 formed between the comb back l2 and the extension 20 may be varied in proportions to further modify the vibration of the tine- Hi to bring about audibility when the tines ll are vibrated, I provide a base plate 28 having bolt receiving openings 30 extending therethrough which register with bolt receiving open ings 32 formed in the comb back 12 so that thebase plate 28 may be clamped to the comb back as suggested in Figure 2. In order to hold the comb back 12 on the base plate 28 I also provide an elongated clamp plate 34 which is arched transversely so that when it is placed on the comb back 12 on the side thereof opposite the base plate, it will engage the comb back l2 adjacent opposite side edges thereof. The arched clamp plate 34 is provided with spaced openings 36 which align with the openings 30 and 32 to receive clamping screws 38 by which the base plate, comb and clamping plate are held in assembled relation as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings. As illustrated in the drawings opposite ends of the clamp plate 34 extend slightly beyond the ends of the comb back [2 and are provided with openings 40 for the reception of attaching screws 42 by means of which the assembled parts may be attached to the sounding board 44 of a musical instrument designated generally 45. In the preferred form of the invention, the clamp plate 34 carries along one side edge a resonator 48 which overlies the tines I4 in spaced relation thereto. The junction of the resonator with the clamp plate 34 is relieved as at 50 so as to avoid interference with the vibrations of the tines. As illustrated in Figure 1, the resonator 48 is provided with av laterally extending tongue 52 which. projects substantially perpendicular to the clamp plate 34 and formed in the tongue 52 adjacent the end thereof remote from the clamp plate 34 is an opening 54 for the reception of an attaching screw 55 by means of which the tongue may be connected. to the sounding board 44 in spaced relation thereto.

In order to vibrate the tines it inproper sequence to produce the musical scale, or various tunes, I provide beneath the tines M a row of hammers. 58 which are adapted to be moved upwardly with one. hammer aligning with a tine so that as it is moved. upwardly, a. tine willbe struck thereby and. set into vibration to produce the desired musical. tone. Upward movement of the hammers is effected by arms fill which may be connected directly to piano keys, or actuated in any other manner to bring about upward movement of their: respective hammers 58.

In use it will be evident that upon moving a hammer iii; upwardly it will strike the ting beneath which it is located, thus setting said tine into vibration which is transmitted through the neck 22 to the comb back l2 and its volume amplified into an audible tone by the base plate 28 and resonator 43. Itis evident that by adjusting the depth of the notches 2 1 and 26' and consequently altering the dimensions of the arm and neck 22, the frequency of vibration of the respective tines M may be varied in order to produce accurate musical tones. Obviously once having established the correct depth. of

notch Z l or 26", a die maybe constructed by which. musical combs of accurate tonal quality may' be produced with precision and in quantity. Hence it possible to produce musical toys, particulariy' toy pianos having accurate tonal qualities.

on; a basis that will have, a popular appeal. By-

thus: producing. musical instruments of accurate tonal quality, it is; evident. that; musical education of a large number; of people can be accomplished with but a minimum financial contribu-- tion by each.

, While in. the foregoing there. has been shown and. described. the preferred; form of this invert-- tion, it is to: beunderstood that minor: changes in. the details of constmetion,v combination and arrangement of, parts maybe resorted. to without- 4 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim': 1. In a comb type of musical instrument, a plate of spring metal formed to provide an elongated back portion and tines carried by said back portion along one longitudinal edge thereof,

K mounted for individual upward movement, a

musical comb mounted above said hammerssaid. comb having an elongated back portion and tines extending therefrom which lie in they path of movement of the hammers, a base plate engag ingthe underside of the back portion, an up.- wardly' arched clamp plate engaging the upper side of the back portion adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, and a. resonator e"- tending outward from the clamp plate above the tines in spaced relation thereto.

3. In a musical instrument a row of hammers mounted for individual upward movement, a musical comb mounted above said hammers, said comb having an elongated back portion carrying tines which lie in the path of movement of the hammers, a base plate engaging the under side of the back portion, an upwardly arched clamp plate engaging the upper side of the backportion adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, a resonator carried by theclampplate and extending partially over' the tines in spaced relation thereto, a sounding board positioned above said comb and the resonator, and means for connecting the extended portion of the reso-- nator to the sounding board.

OTTO R. NEMEEI'H.

References Cited in. the file of this patent 

